Answer :
Final answer:
The change in the peppered moth population from predominantly speckled to predominantly black during the Industrial Revolution occurred due to natural selection, where the environment favored dark coloration as soot from factories darkened tree bark. This led to increased survival and reproduction rates of darker moths. This example illustrates how environmental changes can result in observable shifts in species over time.
Explanation:
The Change in the Peppered Moth Population
During the Industrial Revolution, significant changes in the environment around cities in England led to observable changes in the population of peppered moths (Biston betularia). Originally, these moths had a light coloration that allowed them to blend in with the lichen-covered trees, providing camouflage from predators. However, as factories produced soot that darkened the tree bark, the once advantageous light coloration became a disadvantage.
In this altered environment, the darker moths, which had emerged due to a mutation, became better camouflaged against the sooty trees. As a result, birds were more likely to prey on the light-colored moths, allowing the black moths to survive and reproduce successfully over generations. Consequently, by the 1950s, the population shifted to being predominantly black, illustrating the concept of natural selection, where the environment favors certain traits that provide a survival advantage.
This example of the peppered moth is a clear demonstration of natural selection, as the different coloration resulted in varying survival rates based on environmental conditions and showcases how evolutionary processes can lead to rapid changes in allele frequencies within a population.
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